MOBILE CRANE STRIKES POWER LINES IN NORTH WEST CALGARY

At approximately 9:00 this morning the Calgary Fire Department responded to the 9000 block of Bearspaw Dam Road for reports of a downed power line.  Upon arrival fire crews found that a mobile crane had snagged the lines, with the boom of the crane, while passing underneath. The stress placed on the wires, during the collision, caused an adjoining power pole to shear-off.  The downed power lines then came to rest upon the crane as well as across nearby railway tracks.   Aware of the dangerous situation, the crane operator stayed within his vehicle until fire crew arrived.  Arriving fire crews ordered the operator to maintain his position inside the crane until the lines could be de-energized.  On-scene Enmax crews de-energized the power lines, allowing the operator to safely exit the vehicle. The operator was assessed for injuries by firefighters.  No injuries were reported.  Both eastbound and westbound rail traffic was shut down while power lines were cleared. The rail lines have since been reopened.   Electrical power in the area is currently disrupted while Enmax crews make repairs. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.

 

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